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Russian Sauna
How to Enjoy a Banya – The Traditional Russian Sauna
Banya is the Russian word for sauna. A Russian sauna
is similar to its Scandinavian counterpart in that it involves heat, steam
and cold water. The Russians, however, have added herbs as an important
ingredient which are said to enhance the experience and help bathers breathe
in the hot air of the sauna steam room more easily. Popular herbs are
rosebuds as well as the leaves from current and raspberry bushes.
A visit to a Russian banya steam room starts by washing up in warm water.
Once you enter the sauna it’s a good idea to sit on one of the lower benches
to get accustomed to the heat and humidity, which can be anywhere from 80 –
100%. Five to ten minutes of sweating is about all newcomers can handle. The
sweating session is followed by a cool shower or, in Russia, a roll in the
snow outside the banya.
A second session in the Russian banya sauna involves the use of herbs. You
are asked to lie down on the sauna bench with your face buried in herbs
while an attendant slaps your back with birch branches. This is said to
increase circulation and promotes well-being. Rinse, re-enter and repeat
your steam room sweating session as often as you like, but don’t overdo it.
If you are new to home saunas and banyas it’s
important to get used to the extreme differences in heat and cold gradually.
A Russian style sauna steam room bath
is not recommended for anyone experiencing heart problems, hypertension or
skin diseases. If you are in good health though, a visit to a traditional
banya will be an unforgettable experience during your stay in Russia.
Build your own banya steam room with precut
sauna kits and pre-built modular
saunas
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